March 2022

IN THIS ISSUE

• Superintendent's Update
• Message from Mr. Priest
• PBIS: Good Attitudes = Better Results
• Tournament Time for Robotics Club
• Congrats Cheerleaders!
• Message from Mrs. Cunningham
• School at the Goedde: The Sky's the Limit
• The Goedde Has a Green Thumb!
• Message from Ms. Dunlap
• #WhyYouMatter at VWMS
• Undercover Agents of Kindness
• Message from Mr. Krogman
• D.A.R.E. Pancake Breakfast
• Proud to be Heart Safe!
• Message from Mrs. Bittner
• Through the Eyes of Our Little Learners
• Eggerss Stadium: You Asked. We Answered!
• Spring 2022 Events

SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE

Dear Van Wert Parents, Families, and Community Members,

Van Wert City Schools is heading to the homestretch and will FINISH STRONG as we continue to meet the challenges of the 2021-2022 school year. We are proud of our students, staff, and parents who have collaborated each day to help achieve our mission to facilitate maximum learning for every student. 

Over the past two years, it has been natural for some to focus on the challenges and the negativity. However, our “win” here has been the ample opportunities for our students to learn and exemplify Cougar Pride each and every day! 

• Students have faced the challenges and found the beauty of resilience by demonstrating patience and grace.
• As a school, we cherish our performances more than ever and are purposeful with these opportunities.
• We have been curious in hearing opinions that both align and differ with our own views.
• It’s been amazing to watch students approach one another to ask for help, give words of encouragement, and demonstrate kindness more than ever.

I am thankful to be a part of the Cougar school community that is active, caring, and passionate about children and their education. Our Van Wert community continues to grow, which enriches and increases the opportunities available to our students.

As we start to move forward out of the pandemic, we are excited about the meaningful learning opportunities that come with a hands-on Project Based Learning experience such as our CEO Program, Career Connections, Literacy Collaborative, Play-Based models in our younger grades, and a recently added greenhouse in an empty classroom at School at the Goedde. Van Wert City Schools is always looking to make our academic and extracurricular programs the very best in the state.  

We are pleased to continue to offer more than 70 STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) classes throughout our district. Our Robotics Club has been competing recently with many successes, and we’re always excited when they take their act on the road for school events, using their robot cannon to shoot t-shirts into the crowds.

I challenge you to visit our website and look at the VWCS Quality Profile (found under the District tab at the top). It summarizes all the outstanding opportunities Van Wert City Schools has to offer.   

Thanks again for all your support for all our programs, and I invite you to get out to the schools and various events to see all the great things happening in our district. You are welcome to e-mail, text, call, or visit me anytime at the Goedde!

Have a great spring, summer, and don’t stop believing!

Go Cougars!

Mr. Mark Bagley
Superintendent

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MESSAGE FROM MR. PRIEST

This school year has been our first of the “new normal”.  I am so happy that our remote learners have returned to school, and we are meeting new challenges head on. 

VWHS is focusing on educating the “whole child” in order to gain better results. PBL (Project Based Learning) is our instructional method at VWCS, but in order to reach a student academically, we must first work through any societal issues, traumatic experiences, and provide the necessary supports that allow our students to be successful. 

Visualize a wheel with three spokes: one spoke as RTI (Response to Intervention), a second as PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), and the third spoke as NME (Neurosequential Model in Education). All three of these spokes revolve around PBL.

We practice RTI daily during PAWS, a 30-minute period that permits students and staff to work collaboratively to achieve a better understanding of the material taught, to refine skills, and to address and remedy any social-emotional needs. Staff also spend an additional 30 minutes after school each day working together and discussing ways to assist deficient students.
 
The NME process has educated staff members on the behaviors of children who have experienced trauma. Trauma is different for everyone, but the results could look the same.  Trauma could be isolation due to the pandemic, divorce of parents, a death in the family, or a sudden change within the family dynamic, to name a few. 

Our work is not done, but I am so very proud of both our staff and students’ perseverance and continued pursuit of excellence.  Quite simply, I am PROUD to be a Cougar!

Mr. Bob Priest
Van Wert High School Principal

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PBIS: Good Attitudes = Better Results

PBIS is a new initiative for the 2021-2022 school year that has already seen tremendous success. PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and is designed to recognize and reward students for displaying positive behaviors and actions in school. An evidence-based program being implemented state-wide, the purpose of PBIS is to create a positive school culture. The goal is to see a reduction in office referrals and tardy behaviors and an increase in attendance and student perceptions of school climate and safety. 

Students at VWHS can earn tickets into weekly drawings for prizes such as gift cards, candy bars or goody bags provided by the staff, as well as the coveted monthly drawing: month-long movie passes for themselves and their family members. We would like to thank Van Wert Cinemas, Laudick’s Jewelry, Brewed Expressions, and all of our generous staff members and private donors who have given to this program. 

Congratulations to the February winners of Van Wert Cinema’s Student of the Month! (L-R): Clayton Mosier (junior), Lily Davis (freshman), Aaron Dowdy (sophomore), and Mariana Ickes (senior).

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TOURNAMENT TIME FOR ROBOTICS CLUB

The Van Wert High School Robotics Club has been busy competing both remotely and in-person. All three teams recently competed at the Wapakoneta Tournament and finished in the top five after the qualifications. Team 14174 took home the most prestigious FTC award, the “Inspire Award”, and team 5501 made it into the finals. All three teams qualified for the state championship and team 14174 finished in the top 10. Next, all of the VWHS Robotics members come together as one team to compete March 24-26 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland with our much larger FRC robot. Spectators are encouraged, or you can watch live online at www.twitch.tv/firstinspires3 and www.twitch.tv/firstinspires4. 

VWHS Robotics Team

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CONGRATS CHEERLEADERS!

Congratulations to our VWHS Competition Cheerleaders! They were the state Runners Up in the D-IV Non-Build category at the OASSA State Cheerleading & Dance competition on Sunday, February 27. 

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MESSAGE FROM MRS. CUNNINGHAM

We are pleased to introduce the new Van Wert School at the Goedde! We serve students in grades 6-12 from Van Wert, Lincolnview, and Crestview. Our goal at the Goedde is to help students achieve academic success by building a foundation for lifelong learning. 

The Goedde recognizes that in order to be successful, students need support from both home and school. We have created strong partnerships with students, parents, community resources, and mental health supports which empower the vision of our school. Collectively, we are creating an environment that is not about punishment but rather discovering alternatives to learning and managing life choices. We are unwavering in our goal to create excellence in instruction that is evidenced in a school where safety, respect, accountability, and support are expected.  

The classrooms at the Goedde are not your typical classrooms. Our goal here is to provide students with a meaningful learning environment that provides them with independent living and employability skills. Volunteerism is an extremely important piece of what makes the Goedde special, and our students have several opportunities to get out of the classroom and help others through local community service initiatives. Focus groups will become an integral part of our building for the remainder of the year, providing support for academics, mental health, life skills, career planning, and employability skills. 

I am honored and privileged to lead a dynamic school where teachers, staff, community members, and students work together to cultivate an environment where students achieve and believe in themselves and where rigor, care, and resiliency are highly evident. We are committed to ensuring our students can achieve their highest potential. 

Mrs. Rhonda Cunningham
Van Wert School at the Goedde Director

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SCHOOL AT THE GOEDDE

THE SKY'S THE LIMIT

The Goedde is designed to acknowledge that if students cannot learn the way we teach, we will teach them the way they learn. We explore every option possible to make that happen. During one particular math lesson about budgeting, the topic of vacations came up and whether flying or driving made the most sense. Senior Isaac Sully mentioned his dream of flying but that his family always chose to drive to their vacation destinations. 

Before Christmas, students were asked to write down five things they wanted with the understanding that some gifts may or may not be possible. Knowing Isaac’s desire to fly, Mrs. Cunningham contacted Steve Bailey at the Van Wert County Regional Airport. He was able to connect with Josh Huber, a pilot from Celina, who was more than happy to donate his time and resources to make Isaac’s dream come true. They took to the sky on a chilly Saturday morning in January, and Isaac landed back on solid ground with a smile brighter than the sun. We would like to say a tremendous THANK YOU to Steve and Josh for turning Isaac’s dream into a reality! 

Senior Isaac Sully was all smiles after experiencing his first-ever flight with pilot Josh Huber.

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THE GOEDDE HAS A GREEN THUMB!

School at the Goedde is pleased to announce we now have our own greenhouse! Together, staff and students have turned an old classroom that was once used for storage into an applied-knowledge space, designed to teach students the principles of plant health, greenhouse crop selection, and the development of a hydroponics system. These processes allow students to gain an education and understanding of nutrient solutions for the growth of fruits, vegetables, and other greens.

The Goedde has committed to teaching students the importance of “Farm to Fork” concepts, whether it comes from their own resources or from the local markets. This concept provides a clear picture of where food comes from; students learn that the food they eat and the ingredients used have been directly sourced from the farm where it was produced. 

Students are given the opportunity to explore all major food categories through hands-on experiences in our own greenhouse, as well as on-site field trips, virtual field trips, and by studying different cultures, which brings new foods and flavors to the table. Students then take this education to the kitchen where they prepare various dishes that are cultivated from the teachings with healthy eating habits and delicious flavors!

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MESSAGE FROM MS. DUNLAP

Things are happening at Van Wert Middle School! As we roll into the third trimester, students have been digging into more difficult curriculum, and careers have become a focus in many classrooms.

Earlier this year, 8th grade students worked with Ohio Means Jobs to explore career clusters. They are now focusing on a different career cluster each week and have local business leaders and high school CEO students in as speakers weekly. 6th graders will also be focusing on careers in the coming weeks with a Van Wert County Career Connections unit.

7th grade recently hosted Rick McCoy, Van Wert County EMA Director, to discuss significant weather events in Van Wert as part of their study on weather. 

Our Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) team assigned all staff and students to a den this year.  Students compete to earn den points through competitions, activities, and by following school-wide norms. Each trimester, the winning den earns rewards, such as a day at Van Wert Cinemas, as a result of their efforts. 

There are several opportunities for students to get involved during the school day and after school: 

• Quiz Bowl opened their season against Crestview on March 12.
• 4-H, History Club, and Robotics Club are meeting regularly.
• The Middle School Band and Choir have upcoming spring concerts.
• Many VWMS students also have supporting roles in the VWHS spring musical,  “Cinderella”.

We are busy preparing for 97 of our 8th grade students to visit Washington DC this spring, and those choosing to stay at VWMS will have lots of “Capital” activities closer to home. 

We are thankful for all the support families and the community give to our staff and students to help make VWMS a great place to work and learn.  

Ms. Darla Dunlap
Van Wert Middle School Principal

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#WhyYouMatter AT VWMS

Van Wert Middle School is excited to be participating in the #WhyYouMatter project! Led by District Media Specialist, Mrs. Nellie Schmidt, the goal is to lift up and celebrate each student and staff member for his or her unique qualities. “It’s been a hard year and it’s important to remember we all have meaning and purpose,” Mrs. Schmidt stated. “I see the middle school as a family, and I want to build on that sense of community to help foster our students’ self-esteem.”  

Student and staff portraits will be hung around the school and shared on our social media pages. We hope you join us in celebrating why our students matter!

For teens in particular, the ability to connect with peers, friends, and relatives is critical and can help protect against depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. 

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UNDERCOVER AGENTS OF KINDNESS

By Tricia Ridenour
Gifted Teacher

A group of middle school students noticed that our world could use a little more positivity and decided to form a student-driven movement: Undercover Agents of Kindness. Their goal is to inspire students and staff with small acts of goodwill while raising awareness of the need for compassionate acts. The idea behind it is to do small acts of kindness for others without necessarily taking credit in the hopes that others will want to do the same, thus creating a school-wide movement or an all-inclusive Kindness Club where everyone is invited to join. 

Undercover Agents of Kindness was hatched, and students recorded a TikTok video introducing the concept during Friday morning video announcements.  Libby Jones, a 7th grade student, encouraged her peers, “If you want to join the Kindness Club, all you have to do is spread kindness around.”  

A bulletin board is another student-led creation where students anonymously submit a “Kindness Star”, naming their act of kindness which is then added to the quickly growing constellation of positivity.  The leaders of this movement hope to see kindness take over the school, making the world a better place one small act at a time. 

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MESSAGE FROM MR. KROGMAN

Welcome to Spring! Thank you for your patience as we have had many adjusted schedules due to cancellations and delays over this winter time frame. Our teachers continued to work during these calamity days, receiving vital professional development, analyzing student data, and preparing for the end of the year and state testing. We are thankful to have such a tremendous staff that continues to work hard with a passion and do what is best for our students.

We have had many fun and exciting activities take place over the last few months. One of the highlights was when our Jumpin’ Jammers team visited the ECC to showcase their jump rope skills. Mrs. Holliday and Mr. Schmidt did an amazing job working with our students, and they put on a wonderful performance for students at the ECC. Additionally, our music teachers put on a tremendous spring musical for our 1st - 4th graders. We would like to thank Mrs. Brubaker and Mrs. Slusher for their work and dedication. Our students did a fantastic job, and we are appreciative of the help our staff provided, as well as those at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.  

Our building will continue to prepare for state testing this spring. Students in 3rd - 5th grades will be tested in mathematics and reading. Our 5th grade students will be tested in science as well. These tests will begin in April and will last the majority of the month as we wind down the school year. We will celebrate the end of the year as we always do, holding our annual Field Day and celebrating grade-level awards, along with recognizing our 100 Mile Club award winners.   
 

Mr. Justin Krogman
Van Wert Elementary School Principal

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D.A.R.E. PANCAKE BREAKFAST

By Officer Bryon Wells
D.A.R.E. Officer
Van Wert Police Dept.

Van Wert City D.A.R.E. hosted its annual pancake breakfast on Saturday, February 12. The breakfast, consisting of pancakes, sausage, and sausage gravy with biscuits, was held in the Van Wert Elementary School Commons. The public was invited to attend at no cost other than a free will donation. This event raised over $4,000 for the D.A.R.E. program; all proceeds will be used for future D.A.R.E. events and supplies. In addition to its work in all three county schools, the Van Wert D.A.R.E. program also offers a summer camp that provides children with safe and fun experiences like Camp Clay, bowling, swimming, and cookouts. 

The pancake breakfast was made possible by the many volunteers, including Van Wert City Schools PTO (Ashley Ricker), Van Wert Elementary School (Justin Krogman, Tracy Wehner, Becky Proffitt, Julie LaRue, Dan Arend, and Mark Breece), the Van Wert City Police Department, and several student volunteers. All supplies for the event were graciously donated by several local businesses, and we would like to thank all of our sponsors and volunteers as this event would not have been possible without their generosity!

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PROUD TO BE HEART SAFE!

Van Wert Elementary School is proud to announce its new designation as a Heart Safe School by Project ADAM. A Heart Safe School designation increases the likelihood that students, staff, and visitors will survive sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) while on campus. SCA is the abrupt, unexpected loss of heart function, usually resulting from an electrical problem within the heart. When this happens, the heart usually stops beating and blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA often results in death if not treated quickly.

Project ADAM works with schools to ensure they are prepared to handle a cardiac emergency through assessments and training. A school becomes designated as a Heart Safe School after completing a thorough list of requirements, including ensuring AEDs are available and accessible, having a written plan and team of CPR/AED-trained staff ready to act in an emergency, and conducting emergency response practice drills. 

Within a week of completing their official practice drill, the VWES Cardiac Response Team (CRT) put their newly learned skills to use assisting a staff member who collapsed before school. While an AED was not needed during this event, the CRT was able to execute its emergency plan and respond in time.

VWES Principal Justin Krogman, Nurse Emily Whittington, District Nurse Theresa Whittington, and Assistant Principal Tracy Wehner proudly hold the new VWES Heart Safe School Designation banner.

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MESSAGE FROM MRS. BITTNER

This year, the staff at the ECC is working through the book, Row the Boat by Jon Gordon and PJ Fleck.  Our “why” is to all be working together and going in the same direction for the students and families of the Early Childhood Center.  

Row the Boat has three main components:
 

• The Oar: The energy. Only you can dictate whether your oar is in the water or whether you take it out and decide not to use it.
• The Boat: The sacrifice. The more you give, serve, and make your life about helping others, the better and more fulfilled your life will be, and the bigger your boat gets.
• The Compass: The direction. The vision you have for your life and the people you surround yourself with help create the dream of where you want to go. 

This “never give up” philosophy is an approach to lead with enthusiasm and optimism at work and life in spite of the adversity that we may face. We must not let our circumstances dictate who we become – individually or as a team. The last two school years have certainly brought us our share of challenges and circumstances, oftentimes beyond our control. However, we can be positive and proactive in how we deal with them. The book is designed with life lessons to help us do just that!

Our children are also learning to work through adversity and challenges through our monthly Cougar Cub character words: Kindness, Respect, Honesty, Responsibility, Hard Work, Thankfulness, Teamwork, Perseverance, and Cougar Pride! Our classroom teachers work with children, sharing what these words mean and how we show these character traits in ourselves at school and in life. 

As we end this year, it is our goal that we have helped your child to not only learn the necessary academia for preschool and kindergarten but also the skills needed in life to row their boat daily!

Mrs. Lori Bittner
Van Wert Early Childhood Center Principal

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THROUGH THE EYES OF OUR LITTLEST LEARNERS

Good morning! Hang up my coat. Read the board. What is today’s question? “Do you like to paint?” Yes, I do! Put my name in the “Yes!” column. 

Let’s play! My teacher brought in new toys today. Animal clinic! What fun! Legos. Building blocks. It’s time to eat breakfast. Wash my hands first. 

Time for gym. Line up! Am I the line leader or the caboose today? How many friends are here today? Let’s count. Walk quietly down the hall. Find my spot in the gym. Stretch. Warm up. Act like animals! How silly. I’m an elephant first. Look at my trunk! A kangaroo goes hop, hop, hop!

Back to class. Sort the letters. Is this letter in my name? Is this a capital or small letter? Does this letter have a hole in it? What color is this letter? 

Let’s color some animals! Cut on the lines. Give it two eyes and a mouth. A collar, but he needs a name. Time to clean up.

More time to play! All my friends play in the animal clinic. My kitty is sick, can I see the doctor? Look at that picture. I can see its bones! That’s called an x-ray.  

Recess! My favorite! We can go outside today! Zip up my coat. Put on my hat and gloves. Walk quietly outside but then run, run, run! I’m out of breath. I can’t stop laughing! 
Time to go back inside. Wait my turn. Take off my hat and gloves. Hang my coat up. 

Carpet time. Find my spot. Shh, the teacher is talking. Do these words rhyme? Hmm. What sound do I hear in the middle of that word? How many sounds do I hear? What letters make those sounds? 

Time for library! I pick a book about animals. I ask my teacher, “What’s this animal? It starts with the letter ‘P’. He’s funny looking!” Go put my book away, it’s time for lunch. 

Line up and count our friends again. Is everyone ready? Walk quietly down the hall. I’m hungry! I eat, clean up, and wait for my friends. 

Now it’s time to rest. We all get a mat. Grab my special snuggly blanket. Lights off. Sometimes there’s quiet music. Sometimes a movie. 

Stretch! Yawn. It’s carpet time again. We read a book together and talk about the story. Who is Baxter? Is he the dog or the cat? What colors did I see? What other animals were in the story? 

Time to journal! Draw a cat. “O” for the face, “A” for its ears. “J” for its kitty mouth, and a “V” for its whiskers. Next a dog. Can I use the same letters to draw a dog? Write “cat” and “dog”. 

Recess again! This time it’s in the gym. Bounce a ball. Tag, you’re it!
Whew, that was fun! Back to the classroom. Finish my journal and put it away. Do I have all my crayons? Wash my hands, it’s time for snack! Now let’s dance! Lots of silly songs, I laugh and wiggle. What fun! I love being silly.

Time to get my coat because I ride the bus. Some of my friends stay at school. Their mommy or daddy picks them up. I had fun today. See you on our next school day. Bye bye!

An ECC student pretends to be a veterinarian and examines her kitty cat while playing “Animal Clinic”.  

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EGGERSS STADIUM RENOVATIONS

YOU ASKED. WE ANSWERED!

For a complete list of frequently asked questions, visit our website at www.vwcs.net/vwathletics/Content/eggerss-stadium-renovations.

WHAT RENOVATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE?
All renovations will focus on three key components - safety and accessibility, expanded usability, and preservation of tradition. Preliminary plans include the following renovations:

• Concrete restoration of stadium infrastructure
• Widening aisles and adding handrails
• Replacing safety railings
• Handicap seating & accessibility in the stadium
• Artificial turf field
• New concession stand under the stadium
• New concession building with restrooms and storage in the south end zone
• New, larger restrooms for both men and women under the stadium
• New Cougar Pride Marching Band bleachers in south end zone
• Expanded home side press box designed as a multi-purpose space   
• Additional parking (150+ spots off Crawford St.)
• New Cougar Football locker room under the stadium
• Storage under the stadium
• Preservation of the Cougar Pride Wall

WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL COST TO HOMEOWNERS?
After a thorough analysis, the budget is estimated to be $5 million, which will be funded primarily through a 20-year bond on the May 2022 ballot. Interest rates cannot be secured until the issue passes, but at the time of this publication, the annual cost for an individual owning a home with a $100,000 taxable value is approximately $40 per year.

WHAT IS THE LONG-TERM STRATEGY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY? CAN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S CURRENT OPERATING BUDGET SUPPORT IT?
VWCS has two funds that will be used to maintain the stadium long-term: an Athletics Facility Fund and the Permanent Improvement Fund. The Athletics Facility Fund is relatively new and will be used to help maintain several athletic facilities: Eggerss Stadium, the track, the tennis complex, and multiple basketball courts. The Permanent Improvement Fund is currently paying off debts accumulated by the lighting project and visitor bleachers at Eggerss Stadium. Once those debts are paid off, that fund will be available to help maintain the stadium.

WHAT PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE STADIUM FACILITY WILL THERE BE OUTSIDE OF SPORTING EVENTS?
The installation of artificial turf will allow Eggerss Stadium and the press box to become a multi-purpose venue. VWCS welcomes any ideas for how the stadium could be used outside of athletics, and we invite community members to work with us on how to make it happen. We envision events such as concerts, dance/cheer/band competitions and performances, and youth activities, but all things are possible.

KEY DATES TO REMEMBER!
March 18, 2022 - Military & overseas absentee voting begins
April 4, 2022 - Deadline to register to vote
April 5, 2022 - Early in-person voting & absentee voting by mail begins
May 3, 2022 - Election Day

For more information about voting in Ohio, please visit www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters.

*If the bond issue passes on May 3, construction could begin as early as summer 2022. Planned renovations could take up to three years to complete, but all future Cougar football games are scheduled to be played at Eggerss Stadium. 

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SPRING 2022 EVENTS

Athletic events shown are HOME Varsity contests. Events and athletic contests are subject to change without notice. For a full list of events, visit our district calendar. 

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